April 21, 1956 – May 19, 2018
Susan Sutherland Hanson of Poulsbo, WA passed away unexpectedly on May 19, 2018 at age 62. She touched a vast community of people with her bright spirit and enthusiasm for life.
Sue was born on April 21, 1956 in Port Townsend, WA to Loreen and Philip Sutherland, a commercial fishing family. She graduated from Port Townsend High School where she met the love of her life, Alan Hanson, in the trombone section of the marching band. They were married in 1976 during her junior year at University of Washington where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and a Master of Arts in teaching English to Students of Other Languages. She later earned a Master of Divinity at Earlham University.
Susan had a talent for creating deep connections with people from all walks of life and she loved to laugh. She worked as an ESL teacher at Edmonds Community College for over 30 years where she grew a reputation as a warm, compassionate, humor-filled educator. Sue loved to travel, spending two years in Japan with her family teaching English, working at a hospital in the UAE, touring France, Italy, Scotland, and Ireland both as a guide and with family, and a service trip to Guatemala.
She loved to explore questions about the mystical in life and the Divine through workshops, poetry, deep conversations, and essays. Her writing is featured in numerous publications as well as her books, “Stars and Strangers” and “Invitation to Openness.” She loved backpacking in the Olympics, she competed in triathlons, played tennis, the piano, spoke French, and was learning Scottish Gaelic.
She is survived by her husband Alan Hanson; mother Loreen Blayden Sutherland; sister Vicky Horton; brothers George and Peter Sutherland; children Philip Hanson and Mariah Ordoñez; and grandchildren Raeya and Broden Hanson and Maxwell and Leandro Ordoñez. She delighted in her grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at The Farm Kitchen in Poulsbo, WA on June 9 at 2 pm. Guests are encouraged to carpool.
“Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.” -Rumi
